Johnson & Johnson signalled its diversification into vaccines on Monday with an equity and investment deal in excess of €302m ($442m) in Crucell that could secure it control of the world’s first universal flu jab. The US company will acquire 18% of Crucell, the Dutch-based biotech group, with development rights on a flu vaccine designed to protect against all future strains of the virus. The deal follows J&J’s agreement to buy a stake in Irish biotech company Elan in July.

This entry was posted by Gwen Robinson on Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 at 4:51 and is filed under Capital markets, M&A. Tagged with Crucell, Elan, Johnson & Johnson. Edit this entry.